Binder.



C. B. WILLIAMS.

BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-I6, 1915.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys 7e w w/5%.

C. B. WILLIAMS.

BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-16, 19].:

1,215,602. Patented Feb.13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' e Witnesses V j lnventpr nu: mwms PEYERS c0. PMO10-LI1MU wAsnmnmu. o c.

Attorneys CORA BELLE WILLIAMS, 0F MALVERN, IOWA.

BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed December 16, 1915. Serial No. 67,233.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORA BELLE WIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malvern, in the county of Mills and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Binder, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a binder, brace or corset and the invention aims to provide a garment of this type which will adequately support large pendulous abdomens and breasts such as result from advanced pregnancy and other causes, proper adjustments being possible so that the garment may be Varied in form to fit, shape and sustain the figures of the unusually obese.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of What is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows the outside of a binder constructed in accordance with the present invention, the binder being laid flat;

Fig. 2 shows the inside of a binder constructed in accordance with the present invention, the binder being laid fiat;

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and applicable to other places on the binder, for the purpose of showing the construction of the cleats;

Fig. at is a fragmental section taken along the line l4 of Fig. 2 and introduced for the purpose of showing the back pads.

The binder forming the subject matter of this application may be fashioned from any desired material and preferably includes a back 1, sides 2 and 3, and a front 4, the circumferential extent of these parts being indicated by arrows along the lower edges of Figs. 1 and 2.

In the lower edge of the back 1 there is formed a curvilinear notch 5 bridged across by elastic strips 6, secured as shown at 7 to the back 1 upon opposite sides of the notch 5. Intermediate its longitudinal edges, the back 1 is provided with a stay 8 inclosed within a covering 9, the stay extending from a point slightly above the crown of the notch 5 to a point adjacent the upper edge of the back. Upon each side of the stay 8 and at some distance therefrom, the back 1 is folded upon itself and stitched as shown at 11 to form plaits 10.

The lower ends of crossed shoulder straps 12 are connected to the upper end of the back 1, elastic strips 14, suitably covered so as not to chafe the shoulders of the wearer, being interposed in the straps 12 intermediate their ends. At their free ends, the shoulder straps 12 are equipped with eyes 15, of which there may be any number.

Located on the inside of the back 1 is a transverse pad 16, the upper edge 17 of which is secured to the back 1 and to the sides 2 and 3, as shown at 17, the end edges 18 of which are secured to the sides 2 and 3. Disposed beneath the transverse back pad 16 is a longitudinal back pad 19, the upper edge of which is secured to the upper edge of the back 1. Circumferentially of the garment, the transverse back pad 16 extends beyond the vertical edges of the longitudinal back pad 19, and the back pad 19 preferably depends slightly below the lower edge of the transverse pad.

Adjacent its longitudinal edges, the back 1 is supplied with stays 20 which are suitably covered as shown at 21, the stays 20 stays 26, extended downwardly from the upper edges of the sides, and terminated, as shown at 27 in spaced relation to the lower edges of the stays.

An extension 28 constitutes a part of the side 3 and an extension 29 constitutes a part of the side 2, adjoining seams between the extensions and the sides being indicated at 30. Near to the seams 30, extensions 28 and 29 carry upright stays 31 suitably covered and terminated as shown at 32 some distance from the lower edges of the extensions.

Secured to the upper edges of the sides 2 and 3 and their extensions 29 and 28 are tabs 33, suitably curved as shown at 34 to define arm holes 34. In the lower edges of the tabs 33, darts 35 are formed, there being downwardly extended darts 36 in the upper edges of the sides 2 and 3, spaced slightly inwardly from the darts 35 in the tabs.

Secured to the upright edges of the side 2 and the correspondingtab 33 is a reinforced strip 37 adapted to coact with a corresponding strip 38 on the front 4. Threaded through openings in the strips 37 and 38 is a lower, elastic lacing cord 39, the tied ends of which are indicated at 40, it being observed that the cord 39 is threaded downwardly through the strips 37 and 38. Another cord 41, which preferably is inelastic is located above the cord 39 and is threaded upwardly through the strips 37 and 38, the ends of the cord being tied together as shown at 42, adjacent the top of the binder. Intermediate its ends, the cord 41 may be formed into bights 43 which may be tied together, thus permitting the proper adjustment.

The front 4, generally considered, is of blunted V-SllEL-PB, the narrower end of the front forming the lower edge thereof, and the wider end thereof forming the upper edge of the front. Carried by the front 4 are downwardly converging, covered stays 44 which terminate as shown at 45 at some distance below the upper edge of the front. Intermediate its longitudinal edges, and between the stays 44, the front is folded and stitched on itself to form a releasable plait 46 of the sort hereinbefore alluded to. Secured transversely to the front 4 adjacent its upper edge is an inelastic strip 51 which may be a piece of tape. Attached to one of the longitudinal edges of the front 4 is a reinforcedstrip 47 coacting with the strip 48, the strips 4" and 48 being united by an elastic cord 49 of the sort hereinbefore described, and by an inelastic cord 50 disposed above the cord 49. Located at suitable points along the lower edge of the binder are depending garter supports 53. The numeral 52 indicates hooks located on the front 4 of the'binder, or elsewhere, the hooks 52 being adapted to receive eyes 15 on the shoulder straps 12. On the longitudinal edge of the strip 48 which constitutes a part of the front, are hooks 54 adapted to coact with eyes 55 on the vertical edge of the extension 28 of the side 3. The tabs 33 may be provided with strings 56 adapted to be united. In the lower edge of the front 4, darts 57 are formed.

The front 4 is of blunted V-shape with its wider end uppermost; the stays 44 on the front converge as they extend downwardly; the stays 31, 26 and 8 terminate in spaced relation to the lower edge of the binder; darts 57 are formed in the front; elastic strips 6 and 25 bridge the notches in the lower edges of the back 1 and the sides 2 and 3 respectively; the draw cords 41 and 50 extend upwardly and are tied at their upper ends, the cords 39 and 49 being elastic, and the cords 41 and 50 being inelas:

ticand because of all of the foregoing, the garment will embrace the waist snugly and extend beneath and support a pendulous abdomen, the garment being properly shaped around the hips and buttocks.

The darts 36 in the sides and the darts 35 in the tabs 33 make due allowance for the fat portions of the back and sides of the wearer adjacent the arm pits. The longitudinal back pad 19 and so much of the transverse back pad 16 as lies thereonfills in the groove in the back of the wearer along the spine, and because the ends of the transverse pad 16 project beyond the upright edges of the longitudinal pad 19, a single thickness of padding is provided on each side of the part 19. I l

The flared form of the front 4 as it extends upwardly accommodates the breasts and the inelastic strip 51 together with the draw strings 56 hOlds in the top portion of the'front above the breasts.

It will be understood readily that plaits, of which the plaits 10 may be taken as typical, may be ripped out at any time,

thus permitting a slacking away of the binder, as occasion may demand.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A binder of the class described, comprising a back, sides and a front, the front being of blunted V-shape with its wider end uppermost; downwardly converging stays on the front; stays on the back and the sides and terminated in spaced relation to the lower edge of the binder; circumferentially elastic strips interposed in the lower edge of the binder; an elastic draw cord forming a connection between the front and one side and located adjacent the lower edge of the binder and in circumferential alinement with the elastic strips; and an inelastic draw cord forming a connection between the front and said side and located above the inelastic draw cord, the free ends of both cords being at opposite ends thereof.

2. A binder of the class described comprising a back; a longitudinal back pad attached to the back adjacent the upper edge of the back; and a transverse pad attached to the back adjacent the upper edge of the back and superposed on the longitudinal pad, the longitudinal pad extending below the transverse pad, and the transverse pad extending laterally beyond the longitudi- 10 nal edges of the longitudinal pad, thereby to form a double thickness adjacent the centers of the pads, and to form a single thickness adjacent the ends of the transverse pad. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

Mlis- CORA BELLE WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

B. A. Davis, 0. N. GARNSEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

